New anti-drugs boss receives MPs’ backing

Dar es Salaam. President John Magufuli’s pick of the lead person to champion the war against drug trafficking was positively received yesterday, with some MPs saying the move would now re-focus the government’s fight against drug barons. The naming of long-serving police officer Rogers William Sianga as Commissioner General of the Drug Control and Enforcement Authority capped a dramatic week in which Dar es Salaam Regional Commissioner Paul Makonda launched what appeared to be a choreographed solo-effort to confront those he believed were involved in the illicit trade, either as traffickers, couriers or consumers.

Mr Makonda’s unorthodox means targeting both the mighty and lowly individuals divided public oponion, and was questioned in Parliament by several MPs who felt the route was improper and would not yield the desired results.

The MPs, who on Wednesday night approved a motion to summon Mr Makonda for questioning over a tiff arising from what they viewed as a slur against Parliamentary privileges, challenged President Magufuli to follow constitutional provisions in the war against drug trafficking in the country. Specifically, the MPs were questioning why, despite a new law establishing a special organ to lead the war against drug trafficking and abuse, the war was being personalised by Mr Makonda. They accused the Dar es Salaam RC of seeking cheap publicity in his crusade to fight drugs in the city.

Yesterday, however, a statement from the State House signed by the President’s spokesperson Gershon Msigwa announced the appointment of Mr Sianga as the first head of the anti-drugs authority. The new agency was established in 2015 under the Drug Control and Enforcement Act which repealed the old law of 1995.

The office of the agency’s boss has, however, remeained vacant for nearly two years now and was seen as the reason why the war against drug trafficking had slackened. The role of the war was in the past shared between a unit of the police force and the largerly moribund drugs control commisison whose mandate was limited to public sensitisation. President Magufuli’s pick will likely galvanise the war on drugs in the country.

According to the State House statement, Mr Siangaa will be assisted by Mr Mihayo Msikela, who will serve as the Commissioner for Operations and Mr Fredrick Kibuta, who was named Commissioner for Intelligence.

Meanwhile, President Magufuli has also appointed Dr Anna Peter Makakala Commissioner General for Immigration Department. Before the appointment, Dr Makakala was the principal of the Immigration College in Moshi. All the appointees will be sworn in tomorrow.

Reacting to the appointments of the team to lead the war against drugs in Parliament, the MPs were emphatic that the decision was the right one. Zitto Kabwe (Kigoma Urban-ACT-Wazalendo) said: “I must congratulate President Magufuli for the appointment of the commissioner general, it is a proud moment for this Parliament because it means the government is listening to our advice.”

According to Mr Kabwe, it vindicates them and proves that if they didn’t raise the issue this week in Dodoma, the commissioner wouldn’t have been appointed.

The Kasulu Urban MP Daniel Nsazugwanko of CCM said he was pleased to hear the announcement on radio. “I heard it on radio on my way back here and I too congratulate the President. Now we are assured that the anti-narcotics campaign has received its legal custodian and commander.”

On his part, Mr Joseph Selasini (Rombo-Chadema) also laid the praise to the House for the move. “From the beginning we said we were behind the president in this war, but it should be known that we are still very much against Dar es Salaam RC Paul Makonda because we believe he’s just after cheap popularity,” said Mr Selasini.

The Rombo legislator noted that the anti-narcotics war should be administered by law and hoped the newly appointed commissioner would be successful.

The Parliamentary Aids Committee said early in the week in its annual report that there was a need to provide the authority with needed resources to enable it carry its work effectively.

Because it was not allocated enough money, the committee noted, the Authority was severely underfunded, a situation which leaves it understaffed, without state of art equipment and means to conduct operations to nab drug barons.

Debating the report Ms Esther Bulaya (Bunda Urban-Chadema) who is also a shadow minister in Prime Minister’s office which is also responsible for drug control, said: “If we really want to help the President (Dr John Magufuli) to win this war then we must advise him to appoint a commissioner for the Drug Control Commission. Once we have the commission up and running, then we will wage this fight systematically.”

“How can we win this war if the very organ that is required by law to be in the frontline is as crippled as the committee noted,” she said adding: “These addicts that Makonda are going after are just victims, they need our help, they need to be on methadone dose, the UN passed a resolution in 2006 that the war should be waged against barons and not addicts. I should inform this House that I have sibling who is currently on rehab, so I know what I am talking about.”

According to the law, in performing its functions the Drug Control and Enforcement Authority shall, among other things, implement the provisions of international conventions, bilateral and multilateral agreements on control of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.

The authority is also mandated to develop and implement a national plan of action for drug control, develop guidelines for addressing drug problem and its consequences to the general public, update and adapt drug control laws and regulations, promote the prevention of drug abuse and trafficking including education, dissemination of information to the general public and other drug initiatives as well as take measures to combat drug trafficking including arrest, search, seize and investigate on drug related matters.

The US State Department through the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs says in its report for 2016 that Tanzania was a serious drugs conduit, most notably heroin originating in Afghanistan and cocaine from South America, with a growing domestic user population.

“Tanzanian drug trafficking organizations and courier networks operate globally with cells throughout Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America,” reads part of the report adding: “These Tanzanian drug trafficking organisations play a prominent role in the Southwest Asian heroin trade. Tanzania also produces cannabis both for domestic consumption and international distribution.”